Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership is currently consulting on its Draft Aberdeenshire Adult Carer Strategy, which is our plan of what we have been doing and what we plan to do to support adult carers over the next five years.

AHSCP is asking adult carers and people who support them, to give their views and help set our Priorities on how we support adult carers to sustain their caring role and have a meaningful life alongside caring.

The Consultation Survey is now open to give your views and will close on 1st September 2025. We will then review your feedback and develop the final strategy for presenting to the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) 12th December 2025. Once the strategy is approved by the IJB, we aim to launch the final strategy in January 2026.

Consultation on Draft Aberdeenshire Adult Carers Strategy 2025 to 2030 | Engage Aberdeenshire

Check out the 'What you told us – What we’re doing' section on Engage Aberdeenshire to see how your voice is shaping our communities in Aberdeenshire.

There is still time to contribute to the Turriff Place Plan

As part of the Aberdeenshire Council Place Strategy, we will be working with you to create place plans for each academy town. Just now it's Turra's turn!

These plans will be built with the participation of people in Turriff and the surrounding area, and will be delivered together with our partners in the NHS, Fire Service, Police Scotland, and community groups.

Aberdeenshire’s towns have their own distinct priorities and identities. These should be recognised, and local actions should reflect local needs.

We will also be holding in-person public engagement events in Turriff and in the surrounding villages. Please check the key dates for information.

This is an opportunity for you to get involved, use your voice and help own the Turriff place plan.

Turriff Place Plan | Engage Aberdeenshire

There is still time to contribute to the Mackie Academy Catchment (Stonehaven) Place Plan - Closes 15th August

As part of the Aberdeenshire Council Place Strategy, we will be working with you to create Place Plans for each academy town and the surrounding area. Stonehaven is the first of these for Kincardine and Mearns focusing on the Mackie Academy school catchment area.

The Mackie Academy Catchment (Stonehaven area) Place Plan will be built with the participation of people in Stonehaven and the surrounding area and will be delivered together with our partners in the NHS, Fire Service, Police Scotland and community groups.

Aberdeenshire’s towns have their own distinct priorities and identities. These should be recognised, and local actions should reflect local needs.

We will also be holding in-person public engagement events in Stonehaven and other settlements within the catchment area. Please check the Key Dates for information.

This is an opportunity for you to get involved, use your voice and influence the Mackie Academy Catchment (Stonehaven area) Place Plan.

You can:

take the survey

post a picture or photo of something you love where you live

We look forward to hearing from you

Mackie Academy Catchment (Stonehaven area) Place Plan Survey | Engage Aberdeenshire

Huntly Community Engagement | Engage Aberdeenshire

If you are a member of the Travelling community, Aberdeenshire Council would love to hear from you.

We’re planning for future Gypsy/Traveller sites in Aberdeenshire. We want to know:

Where new sites should go

What kind of sites are needed - permanent, transit or stopover

What should be on them - like toilets, showers or play areas

Your answers will help shape the next Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2029 to 2039. There will be opportunities for the wider community to get involved in the next stage of the consultation on the future Traveller site provision in Aberdeenshire in the Local Development Plan.

If you’d like to get involved or share your views in more detail, please email our Gypsy/Traveller Liaison Officer at:

gypsytravellerliaison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk(External link) or telephone 07795 238423.

Adult Learning and Communities Workers from the Community Learning and Development Service in Aberdeenshire work with adults to improve their literacies learning and skills for life. Here are some of their thoughts about learning with Community Learning and Development and the impact on their lives.

Published by Caithleen Bell - Senior Community Learning and Development Worker

Inaugural Meeting, Thursday 20th March

Two learners attended a meeting held at Stonehaven Community Centre, they shared their experiences for adult learning with Community Learning and Development. We discussed the purpose, benefits, barriers and key issues of adult learning. We also explored their hopes for the future for Adult Learning in Kincardine and Mearns.

As this was their first meeting, an overview of the purpose of an Adult Learning Forum was shared with them, with an emphasis of them being the experts, encouraging them to share their opinions and have their voice heard.

Both learners would be keen to be part of the Kincardine and Mearns Adult Learners Forum and would be interested in joining discussions and events.

ALFA members were in agreement that the priority for the remainder of 2024 is to encourage Aberdeenshire adult learners to participate in the Budget Engagement for 2025/26 that Aberdeenshire Council has live on Engage Aberdeenshire.

Community Learning and Development Workers (CLD Workers) who support adult voice in our local communities have been tasked with supporting existing adult learners to understand their rights when it comes to having their voices heard in the budget setting process and to offer support with completing the consultation form if they choose to be involved. ALFA members will also promote this across their networks.

You can find out more about the budget engagement and complete the consultation questions by clicking here

Natalie Naylor is an inspirational advocate for adult learning and a dedicated representative of the Marr Adult Learners’ Forum on Aberdeenshire’s Adult Learners' Forum (ALFA). On the evening of September 10th, Natalie appeared on STV News to share her powerful story about living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and to discuss why she founded a support group in Grampian for others facing the same challenges.

As a passionate activist, Natalie is committed to making a positive impact by improving life chances and creating opportunities for informal learning, personal growth and social development. Her tireless advocacy, volunteer work and dedication to peer support are truly commendable.

We want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Natalie for her incredible efforts in raising awareness, supporting others, and championing lifelong learning and peer support. Well done, Natalie!

You can watch the STV news piece here on YouTube:

02 Uk V2 White Beard (youtube.com)